Robert Sharp Seath
16th June 1933 - 9th July 2000
He was born on the 16th of June 1933 at Lessels Buildings, Newmills, Fife.
Getting his scholarship from Torryburn Public School he then did an apprenticeship in painting and decorating. From 18 to 20 years old he was in the RAF for National Service.
He had a talent for singing, acting, art and linguistics,
Leaving National Service in 1953 he did a bit of bar work for a while (c.1953/4) then joined the police force for about a year, before going back into RAF (he would have been 25 or 26). He was then posted in the late 50's early 60's in RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus then on to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia for 6 or 7 months.
Fearing a possible uprising between tribes he learned arabic in just over 3 months to be able to listen in and radio back. He was posted into the desert with a Dutch officer and managed to learn the Dutch language in a matter of weeks. For his efforts he was decorated.
In the mid to late 60's he was posted to Berlin, close to the wall and knew the Russian spies and they knew him. He was approached in a bar in Berlin and also in Cyprus by them to work as a double agent. An offer he thankfully refused.
From 1969 to 1971 he was back home and at RAF Digby in Lincolnshire and in Sptember 1969 he met his future wife Maureen Anne White when she accompanied a friend, whose husband was in the RAF, to a dance in the mess.
Bobby and Maureen married on the 20th of June 1970 in Kilsby just outside Rugby. Two years later their only child Joanne Elizabeth Seath was born.
While he was at Digby, he found himself working with a man who turned out to be a spy for the Russians. He had a red and white Embassy cigarette packet which contained a camera. He would meet people in the woods and leave the information they required in tree trunks...
The date is unknown, but Commander Jackson took over after the problem. Possibly Philby the spy! He was also stationed at North Lufenham where he was a trainer and was approached to become an officer.
From 1971 to 1974 he was stationed at GCHQ as a Flight Lieutenant in Communications, often tracking Russian planes in GB airspace. He also entertained the MP's and VIP's when they visited.
He was discharged for health reasons (phebal thrombosis) but offered a job as a civilian. He refused.
After he left the RAF he was given a list of countries he was not allowed to visit for 12 years due to the nature of his job.
In 1974 He and Maureen ran a Businessmen's Club in Cheltenham for 7 or 8 months until in 1975/6 they moved to Kippford on the borders near Kirkudbright where he was a sales rep for Beecham pharmaceuticals. Then on to Laurieston for 6 or 7 months, and, finally in 1976 -1977 they headed back to Northamptonshire.
For whatever reason he left home in February 1977 and never returned. Whether it was the inability to cope with his civilian life or something else, we will never know.
The rest is quite a mystery. Apparently he worked as a barman at the BBC in London but was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 1999 by which time he was living in Lozells in Birmingham.
Maureen was able to locate him through the RAF as they had kept tabs on him since he left Cheltenham as he knew a lot of top secret and confidential files.
Just prior to his death he came back into the family and spent his last few months getting to know his daughter and her husband but sadly died two months after his first grandchild Alexander was born.
With love and thanks to my cousin Joanne Seath for the photos and background